Supreme Court

Timeline

Senate Dems will filibuster Trump’s Supreme Court nominee no matter who it is in what is only the second time in modern history that the Senate has mounted a filibuster against a nominee.politico.com(See also First 100 Days)

President Trump rallies conservative allies around his Supreme Court nominee, including NRA's Wayne LaPierre, Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform, Charmaine YOest of American Values, David O'Steen of National Right to Life, and Paula White from New Christian Destiny Center.nydailynews.com(See also First 100 Days)

Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch scales back description of pro bono work at Harvard.wsj.com(See also First 100 Days)

2017.02.15

Conservative group pressures Democratic Sen. Tester on Trump’s Supreme Court pick with a commercial that begins by accusing the senator of being too liberal on immigration and healthcare.washingtonpost.com

The Supreme Court agreed to allow a limited version of Trump’s ban on travelers from six mostly Muslim countries to take effect and will consider in the fall the president’s broad powers in immigration matters in a case that raises fundamental issues of national security and religious discrimination.washingtonpost.com(See also Muslim Immigration Ban, Legal Activity)

2017.07.14

A federal court judge agreed once again to partially halt the ban of certain foreign nationals from six predominantly Muslim countries on a nationwide basis - a direct rebuke to the government's attempt to limit the close family members allowed in the US - allowing "grandparents, grandchildren, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins of persons in the United States" to gain entry into the country.cnn.com(See also Legal Activity, Muslim Immigration Ban, Syria, Iran, Yemen)

2017.07.20

The Senate on Thursday confirmed Kentucky lawyer John Bush to a lifetime federal appeals court seat, despite his political blogging where he wrote that the “two greatest tragedies in our country” were slavery and abortion.buzzfeed.com(See also Women, Legal Issues)

2017.07.27

Donald Trump is moving at a furious pace in early nominations for judicial vacancies and open US attorney slots, which will have a significant impact on the shape of American law for decades.businessinsider.com(See also Legal Issues, Federal Departments)

2017.09.12

The Supreme Court reinstated disputed congressional and state voting maps in Texas, blocking two lower court rulings that said the Republican-backed district lines were the product of racial discrimination.bloomberg.com(See also Racism)

The high court action is a victory for Texas Republicans, who defended the districts and sought Supreme Court intervention. It’s a blow to minority-rights groups that sued to challenge the maps.

A divided U.S. Supreme Court let Donald Trump’s travel ban take full effect while legal challenges go forward, allowing the US to bar or restrict entry by people from six mostly Muslim countries, even if they have a relationship with a U.S.-based person or institution.bloomberg.com(See also Muslim Immigration Ban, Muslims, Nationalism, Racism, Iran, Yemen, Syria)

2017.12.19

The collapse of three of Donald Trump’s judicial nominations in the span of a week has embarrassed the White House, revealed weaknesses in its vetting process and threatened to cause Senate Republicans to apply more scrutiny to the president’s picks.washingtonpost.com(See also Legal Issues, LGBTQIA, Corruption)

2017.12.22

Donald Trump's third attempt at implementing his travel ban — issued via a September proclamation — again violates federal law, a panel of the US Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ruled on Friday.buzzfeed.com(See also Muslim Immigration Ban, Immigration)

2018.01.16

The Department of Justice said on Tuesday that it will ask the Supreme Court to immediately review a federal judge’s ruling that ordered the government to restart a program that shields some young illegal immigrants from deportation.nytimes.com(See also Immigration, Department of Justice)

2018.01.19

The U.S. Supreme Court set up a major showdown over presidential powers, agreeing to decide the legality of Donald Trump’s latest travel ban targeting people from six Muslim-majority countries.reuters.com(See also Muslim Immigration Ban, Legal Issues)